DFA downplays Chinese scholars' Batanes claim, says government policy-not academic views-matters
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has dismissed claims by Chinese academics that Batanes is part of China, stating that the government only recognizes official state positions. Officials emphasized that the Philippines remains committed to the 2016 Arbitral Award despite ongoing academic and historical disputes.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the ongoing territorial tensions in the South China Sea and the Philippines' strategy of distinguishing between academic rhetoric and official Chinese government policy.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro brushed aside Chinese academics' claims that Batanes belongs to China, saying the Philippine government deals with official state positions rather than the views of individual scholars.
Responding to questions about the controversy on the sidelines of the conference marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, Lazaro said the claims should not be viewed as an official position of Beijing.
"These are academics. Sometimes the academics really—well, they are academics," she said on July 10.
The country's top diplomat stressed that Philippine foreign policy is guided by official government pronouncements.
"We listen to government—we only listen to government. That's only what we can say," Lazaro said.
"I think we have to be very focused on what the position has taken, how it has evolved," she added.
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